How Does Pre-operative Biliary Drainage in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Affect Surgical Outcomes in Pancreatic Cancer Surgery

Pre-operative biliary drainage (PBD) is a procedure used to relieve bile duct obstruction, a common issue in patients with pancreatic cancer. The obstruction occurs when a tumor blocks the bile duct, leading to jaundice and other complications. While PBD can help resolve jaundice and improve liver function, its impact on the overall outcomes of pancreatic cancer surgery is still debated.

Recent research has focused on whether PBD before surgery improves patient outcomes, such as surgical success, recovery time, and long-term survival. Some studies suggest that draining the bile before surgery might reduce complications like infections, liver dysfunction, and jaundice-related risks. On the other hand, other research indicates that PBD could increase the chances of infection, delays in surgery, or complications from the procedure itself, such as bile leakage or inflammation.

This study will look at patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy to remove their head of pancreas pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma over 8 years, and will compare the tumour characteristics of patients who have had PBD vs those who have not. Data will be gathered from the already available histological characteristics. No treatment would be affected and no tissue would be affected.

This research study will focus on oncological characteristics such as tumour progression and lymphatic spread, with overall patient survival as secondary outcome measures.